Rotary prime mover, pump, compressor, and the like



April 1940- s. WENTWORTH ,197,959

- ROTARY PRIME MOVER', PUMF, QOMPRESSOR, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 z Z a W 66 April 23, 1940. s. WENTWORTH. 2,197,959"

ROTAEY PRIME MOVER, PUMP, COMPRESSOR, AND THE LIKE Filed Fb. 9, 1938 s Sheets-Sheet ,2

l\ 9 5 9 w i awn, I h at! M April 23, 1940. s. WENTWORTH ROTARY PRIME MOVER, PUMP, COMPRESSOR, AND THE LIKE Filed Feb. 9, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 23, 1940 UNITED STATES ROTARY PRIME MOVER, PUMP,-

COMPRESSOR, AND THE. LIKE 1 Stenhouse Wentworth, North England, assignor Stanley England Acton, London,

of one-half to Roland Quartermaine, North Acton, London,

Application February 9, 1938, Serial No. 189,516 In Great Britain June 2, 1937 Claims. (Cl. 103-133) Another object of the invention is to providev an engine capableof being balanced with a high degree of accuracy.

Another object of the invention is to provide an engine which is economical to manufacture. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide an engine which is economical'to operate.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be more readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation taken on line I-I of Fig. 2,

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the piston members and Referring now to the drawings, the engine com prises a two part casing bolted together to form a chamber I of spherical form provided with extensions Id. In chamber I are two piston members 2, 3, each having the form in substance of a wedge of a sphere of the same radius as the chamber I and resting in a pivotal manner upon a diametral pin t so as to be capable of rocking or oscillating to and fro in a direction at right angles thereto. This construction alsoprovides for a separate intermediate closed chamber on either side of the piston member, the intermediate chamber being formed by the radial faces of the piston member and the wall of the chamber I. The two pistons 2, 3 are together of less eiTective volume than the total volume of the spherical chamber I, so that during oscillation of the piston members 2 and 3, the intermediatechambers by rocking the pistons 2; 3 about the diametral pin 4. Thus this construction can be used as either expansion, compression, exhaust or explosion chambers when the engine is used as a prime mover, or as suction and compression chambers are alternately reduced and increased in volume.

when the engine is used as a pumpor compressor. The said pin] 4 is formed at each end with flats to engaging slidably in slots 5 in'the periphery of the sphericalchamber I extending in ,a plane at right angles to the direction of oscillation of the .5 pistons 2, 3. It is thus possible for the diametral I pin 4 and with it the pistons 2, 3, to tilt laterally at the same time as the pistons 2, 3 oscillate to and fro. Thus far Ihaveldescribed, my invention as employing two pistons, however,- it should be 1Q understood that-my invention will operate very efiiciently byemploying one piston.

In order to enable the oscillating movement of the piston members 2 and 3 to be converted into rotary motion, the piston members 2 and 3 are is so mounted as .to be capable of tilting laterally in a plane at right angles to its direction of oscillation.

Thus each piston member 2, 3 is provided with a radial arm 6 lying along the central radius of the pistonandpOsitively fixed thereto at Ed, said arm 6 extending through an aperture 6?] in the wall of the chamber I and engaging a bevel pinion I in a bearing Y near its rim. ,,The am It lies at an angle to the planeof rotation of the pinion 1 that depends upon the angle through which the piston member is required to oscillate. Each I pinion! isrotatably mounted on a fixed spindle 8 on a radius of the spherical chamber I and inv the sameplaneas the slots 5. Said bevel pinions I also mesh with a common bevel gear wheel 9 disposed outside the wall of the spherical chamber and rotatably mounted on a fixed spindle I0, bolted to the outer surface of the chamber wall. The-pinions I and'gear wheel 9 are enclosed in 5' further casing parts I I, I2 respectively and the lower one of the casing parts I I is provided with an oil sump I3. The bevel gear 9'is supported on its fixed spindle by means of a sleeve I 4 extending through the casing part l2- and provided with a suitable coupling end I5 for'connection to an external shaft (not shown).

The rotatable element 9 is thus connectedto the radial member 6, the rotatable element 9 being connected at a point off its center of rotation to the radial connecting member 6 so that the oscillation of the piston members 2 and 3 will be accompanied, by rotation of the rotatable element 9. During this movement the piston' membars 2 and 3 undergoa lateraltilting movement in order to permit movement in a circular path of the member connectingv it to the rotatable element 9. The arrangement is such that in each direction of oscillation the piston members 2 and 3 cause the rotatable element to turn through 'ATENT "OFFICE I 180. In order to render this movement continuous and unidirectional, the momentum of the rotatable element 9 and the piston members 2 and 3 may be suflicient, but if necessary, additional weight or a fly wheel may be employed for the purpose.

In order to provide a seal between the shoulders on either side of the flats on the pin 4 and the periphery of the chamber l semi-circular washers I6 may be interposed between said shoulders and said periphery so as to make rubbing contact with the inner bearing surfaces of the pistons 2, 3, said washers being urged longitudinally of the spindle 4 by means of springs I! in order to be maintained in rubbing contact with the periphery of the spherical chamber l on either side of the slots 5. Further, the bearing surface by which each piston 2, 3 engages with the pin 4 is formed with longitudinal slots in which are disposed sealing strips l8 urged outwardly by suitable resilient means to make rubping contact with said pin 4. The seal as between the pistonmembers 2, 3, and the periphery of the chamber l is effected by means of semicircular sealing strips l9 adjacent to the margins of the pistons, these strips l9 being also urged into rubbing contact with the periphery of said chamber by suitable resilient means and being arranged to overlap with the sealing strips I8 which seal with the pin 4.

At diametrically opposite points in the periphery of the chamber l are provided inlet valves 20 and exhaust valves 2|, one pair for each chamber, the inlet valves 20 being supplied by way of induction pipes 22, and the exhaust valves discharging through the ports 23. The two sets of valves 20, 2|, are operated by cams 24 on cam shafts 25, the cams engaging the valve stems in the usual manner being operated through bevel gearing 26 from a shaft 21 geared to a bevel gear 28 provided at the rear of the main bevel gear 9.

It is only necessary for the arms 6 to be rotatable relatively to either the pinions I or the pistons 2, 3, but if desired theymay be rotatable in relation to both. In the case illustrated, however, the arms 6 have been shown as rotatable in bearings Y in the pinions I only, the other ends of the arms being a tight press-in fit in the pistons The'bearing Y is bushed for part of its length and threaded for the remainder to receive two threaded plugs la, which lock with each other and form end thrust bearings for the arms 6. Access to the locking plugs la is given through apertures in the casing closed by plugs lb. The wall of the chamber I may be formed as a water jacket as shown.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 4 the lowermost bevel gear I is shown as provided with a spindle 'lc extending through and beyond a bearing in the casing l l into the sump l3, which is enlarged in this instance to take a fly-wheel 29 mounted on said spindle 10, a similar fiy-wheel being mounted on the other gear 1 also. Said fly-wheel 29 is provided with a helical-spiral tube 30 rotating with it which serves to pick up oil when in motion and convey it to the upper surface of the fly-wheel. This action takes place due to centrifugal force, created by the rotation of the tube. The fly-wheel then distributes the oil in a spray which is directed by the shape of the flywheel into a series of small holes 30 in the casing "I I. The oil passes through these into the gear chambers and is distributed by the gears themselves to all moving parts and any surplus oil returns to the sump l3 through another series of holes [3a.

In operation it will be seen that, if the main gear 9 be rotated, then the two gears I will also be rotated, but in opposite directions, thus causing the outer ends of the arms 6 to move through circular paths. Said arms 6, however, are enabled to remain always on a radius of the spherical chamber I owing to the capacity of the pin 4 for tilting laterally. The piston members 2, 3, thus undergo in a direction at right angles to the pin 4 and at the same time, a lateral tilting movement, each in a direction opposite to the other. The two separated chambers formed between the faces of the piston members 2, 3 are thus alternately reduced and increased in volume. It is to be observed, however, that the rotation of the gears 1 is continuous and takes place at a uniform speed. When the engine is designed as shown to operate on afour stroke cycle as an internal combustion engine, the initial movement is effected by rotating the gear 9 and the to and fro movements of the piston members 2, 3, provide, in conjunction with the valves 20, 2 l, successive induction, compression, power and exhaust strokes and transmit rotary motion to the gears l, 9. It will be obvious, however, that by employing an appropriate arrangement of valves the engine could be used as a pump or compressor operating on a two stroke cycle, the drive then being transmitted from instead of to the gears l, 9.

I claim:

1. In an engine of the class described, in combination, a casing providing a chamber having an inner surface of substantially spherical form, a piston within the chamber having a surface cooperating with said spherical surface, means shiftably engaging said inner surface and in bearing contact with said piston whereby said piston is permitted to tilt bodily in one direction, rotatable drive means including a radial member projecting inwardly towards the center of the spherical surface, said radial member engaging said piston, said aforesaid means conjointly acting to cause the piston to oscillate in a direction substantially at right angles to its direction of tilting when said driving means rotates the piston.

2. In an engine of theclass described, in combination, a casing providing a chamber having an interior surface of spherical form, a wedgeshaped piston in engagement with said surface, a driven member rotatable on an axis radial to said surface, a connecting member on said driven member having a working engagement with said piston, said connecting member being in radial relation with respect to said surface, and guide means shiftably engaging the inner surface of said chamber and in bearing contact with said piston whereby the piston is mounted for tilting movements in one direction, said connecting member and guide means conjointly acting to cause the piston to oscillate in a direction substantially at right angles to its direction of tilting when said driving means rotates the piston.

3. In an engine of the class described, in combination, a casing providing a chamber having an interior surface of spherical form, a wedgeshaped piston having a correspondingly shaped base in engagementwith said surface, a driven member rotatable on an axis radial to said surface, a connecting member on said driven memher having a working engagement with said pis ton, said connecting member being in radial relation with respect to said surface, and guide means shiftably engaging the inner surface of said chamber and in contact with said piston, whereby the piston is mounted for tilting movements in a direction which includes a great circle passing through the axis of said driven member, said connecting member and guide means conjointly acting to cause the piston to oscillate in a direction substantially at right angles to its direction of tilting when said driving means rotates the piston.

4. In an engine of the class described, a casing providing a chamber having an interior surface of generally spherical form, a pair of wedgeshaped pistons having a sealing engagement with said surface, common means to which the apical portions of said pistons are pivoted, guide means on said common means and shiftably engaging said chamber whereby the pistons are capable of tilting simultaneously in one direction, driven means including a pair of pivot arms rotatable about a radial axis and directed towards the center of the spherical surface, each pivot arm having a bearing relation with one of said pistons, and a power drive member connected to said driven members whereby said driven members are adapted to rotate in opposite directions, said pivot arms and guide means conjointly acting to cause the pistons to tilt in one direction and to oscillate in a direction substantially at right angles to the tilting direction, thereby causing the pistons relativey to approach and retract.

ship between the piston and gear, common means to which said pistons are pivotally connected, guide means on said common means and shiftably engaging said interior surface of said chamber, said guide means being located on a great circle extending through the axes of said'gears, whereby the pistons are caused to tilt in the direction of said great circle, drive means connecting said gears whereby said drive means and gears are caused to rotate in opposite directions at the same speed, said connecting arms and said guide means acting conjointly to cause the tilting movements of the pistons in. the direction aforesaid and to cause oscillating movements in a direction substantially at right angles thereto, said chamber being provided with inlet and outlet valves remote from saidextensions and remote from said guide means. I

STENHOUSE WENTWORTH. 

